US6142790A - Connector with flexible beam providing uniform contact pressure - Google Patents

Connector with flexible beam providing uniform contact pressure Download PDF

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Publication number
US6142790A
US6142790A US09/312,533 US31253399A US6142790A US 6142790 A US6142790 A US 6142790A US 31253399 A US31253399 A US 31253399A US 6142790 A US6142790 A US 6142790A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
bowed portion
base
flat circuit
shaped joint
housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US09/312,533
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English (en)
Inventor
Toshihiro Niitsu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Molex LLC
Original Assignee
Molex LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Molex LLC filed Critical Molex LLC
Assigned to MOLEX INCORPORATED reassignment MOLEX INCORPORATED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: NIITSU, TOSHIHIRO
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US6142790A publication Critical patent/US6142790A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/50—Fixed connections
    • H01R12/59—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
    • H01R12/62—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/50—Fixed connections
    • H01R12/51—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/52—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/50—Fixed connections
    • H01R12/59—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
    • H01R12/592—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connections to contact elements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/77—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
    • H01R12/79—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures

Definitions

  • This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an electrical connector for interconnecting a pair of generally parallel flat circuits, such as two printed circuit boards, a printed circuit board and a flat flexible cable or the like.
  • Such a connector includes a relatively low profile dielectric housing which mounts a plurality of terminals.
  • the terminals include the cantilevered contact arms or beams for surface engaging appropriate circuit pads on the flat circuit.
  • Opposite ends of the terminals are appropriately connected to the conductors of another connecting device.
  • the opposite ends of the terminals may comprise tails for connection, as by soldering, to circuit traces on a second flat circuit. Therefore, such connectors can readily interconnect a pair of flat circuits, such as a pair of printed circuit boards or a printed circuit board and a flat flexible cable, for instance.
  • the present invention is directed to solving these problems by an improved contact beam structure in the terminals of such electrical connectors.
  • An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector of the character described for connection to a flat circuit and to provide improved resiliency and stress distribution in the terminals of the connector.
  • the connector includes a generally flat dielectric housing adapted for mounting on a first flat circuit.
  • a plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and are spaced therealong.
  • Each terminal includes a base anchored in the housing.
  • a tail extends from one end of the base for connection to an appropriate conductor on the first flat circuit.
  • a cantilevered beam extends from an opposite end of the base and terminates in a U-shaped joint.
  • a contact arm extends from the U-shaped joint back over the cantilevered beam and terminates in a contact portion for engaging an appropriate conductor on a second flat circuit.
  • the cantilevered beam includes a first bowed portion projecting toward the first flat circuit and a second bowed portion projecting toward the second flat circuit.
  • the bases of the terminals are insert molded in the housing.
  • the second bowed portion follows the first bowed portion sequentially along the cantilevered beam away from the base toward the U-shaped joint of each terminal.
  • Each bowed portion comprises straight lengths of the cantilevered beam meeting at an apex.
  • the invention is not limited to a U-shaped terminal.
  • the stress distribution provided by the cantilevered beam structure of the invention is equally applicable for other types of cantilevered terminals.
  • FIG. 1 is a front-to-rear section through an electrical connector embodying the concepts of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the connector
  • FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the connector
  • FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the connector
  • FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the connector
  • FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, with the connector coupled between a pair of generally parallel flat circuits.
  • an electrical connector generally designated 1 which includes a generally flat dielectric housing, generally designated 2, which is adapted for mounting on a first flat circuit as will be described hereinafter in relation to FIG. 6.
  • the housing mounts a plurality of terminals, generally designated 3, which are spaced along the housing as best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.
  • Housing 2 of connector 1 is a one-piece structure unitarily molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like.
  • the housing is thin or wafer-like and has a generally U-shaped configuration as seen best in FIGS. 2 and 4, as defined by a pair of spaced wing portions 4 joined by a cross portion 6.
  • the housing defines a bottom surface 8 and a top surface 10 as best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5.
  • wings 4 and cross portion 6 of housing 2 define an open area 12 (FIGS. 2 and 4) into which the contact portions of terminals 3 project as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
  • the housing includes a pair of mounting posts 14 for insertion into appropriate mounting holes in one of the flat circuits, as seen in FIG. 6.
  • Each terminal 3 includes a base 16 (FIG. 1) anchored within cross portion 6 of housing 2, as by insert molding the base in the molded plastic housing.
  • a tail 18 extends from base 16 rearwardly of the connector. The bottom surface of the tail is coplanar with bottom surface 8 of the housing. The tail is provided for connection to an appropriate conductor or circuit trace of the flat circuit on which the connector is mounted.
  • a cantilevered beam, generally designated 20, extends forwardly of base 16 into open area 12 of the housing and terminates in a U-shaped joint 22.
  • a contact arm 24 extends from the U-shaped joint back over cantilevered beam 20 and terminates in a contact portion 26 for engaging an appropriate conductor on a second flat circuit, as will be described hereinafter in relation to FIG. 6.
  • the cantilevered beam is narrowed, as at 27 (FIG. 4), inwardly of U-shaped joint 22.
  • Contact portion 26 of each terminal is bifurcated, as seen best in FIGS. 2 and 3, to provide two points of contact for each terminal.
  • the bottom-most point 28 (FIG. 1) of the U-shaped contact portion of the terminal is above bottom surface 8 of housing 2.
  • cantilevered beam 20 of each terminal 3 includes a first bowed portion 30 projecting downwardly toward the first flat circuit on which the connector is mounted, as clearly seen in FIG. 1, along with a second bowed portion 32 which projects upwardly toward the second flat circuit which engages contact portion 26 of contact arm 24 of the terminal. It can be seen in FIG. 1 that each bowed portion 30 and 32 actually comprises straight lengths 30a and 32a, respectively, of cantilevered beam 20 meeting at apexes 30b and 32b, respectively.
  • FIG. 6 shows connector 1 mounted on a first flat circuit 34 which may be a printed circuit board, for instance. It can be seen that bottom surface 8 of housing 2 and the bottom surfaces of tails 18 of terminals 3 are coplanar and engage the top surface of flat circuit 34. Tails 18 typically are connected, as by soldering, to appropriate circuit traces or conductors on the top surface of flat circuit 34.
  • FIG. 6 also shows a second flat circuit 36 engaged with contact portion 26 of contact arm 24 of each terminal to bias the contact arm downwardly in the direction of arrow "A" about U-shaped joint 22.
  • Second flat circuit 36 could be a second printed circuit board, a flat flexible cable or the like.
  • contact arm 24 flexes in the direction of arrow "A" (FIG. 6) a significant amount versus the minimal flexing of cantilevered beam 20.
  • This phenomenon is caused by the stiffening of the cantilevered beam by upwardly and downwardly bowed portions 30 and 32, respectively, of the cantilevered beam.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
US09/312,533 1998-06-12 1999-05-14 Connector with flexible beam providing uniform contact pressure Expired - Lifetime US6142790A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP10-181412 1998-06-12
JP18141298A JP3903332B2 (ja) 1998-06-12 1998-06-12 電気コネクタ

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US6142790A true US6142790A (en) 2000-11-07

Family

ID=16100321

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/312,533 Expired - Lifetime US6142790A (en) 1998-06-12 1999-05-14 Connector with flexible beam providing uniform contact pressure

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US6142790A (fr)
EP (1) EP0964478A3 (fr)
JP (1) JP3903332B2 (fr)

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6287151B1 (en) * 1999-01-29 2001-09-11 Molex Incorporated Electrical connector for manipulation by a vacuum-suction nozzle
US6488513B1 (en) 2001-12-13 2002-12-03 Intercon Systems, Inc. Interposer assembly for soldered electrical connections
US6604950B2 (en) * 2001-04-26 2003-08-12 Teledyne Technologies Incorporated Low pitch, high density connector
US6719594B1 (en) * 1999-03-08 2004-04-13 Tyco Electronics. Amp, K.K. Board-mounted connector
US6730134B2 (en) 2001-07-02 2004-05-04 Intercon Systems, Inc. Interposer assembly
US6855013B2 (en) * 2000-05-08 2005-02-15 Tyco Electronic Logistics Ag LCD connector for printed circuit boards
US20070105407A1 (en) * 2005-11-04 2007-05-10 Advanced Connectek Inc. Board to board connector
US20130109246A1 (en) * 2011-11-02 2013-05-02 Steven E. Minich Electrical connector with reduced normal force
US20160064844A1 (en) * 2014-08-28 2016-03-03 Harumoto Technology (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd. Multiple-Piece FPC Connector
US9397427B2 (en) 2012-10-09 2016-07-19 Molex, Llc Card edge connector
US9455503B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2016-09-27 3M Innovative Properties Company Electrical connector contact terminal
US9509094B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2016-11-29 3M Innovative Properties Company Board mount electrical connector with latch opening on bottom wall
US9509089B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2016-11-29 3M Innovative Properties Company Electrical connector latch
US9553401B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2017-01-24 3M Innovative Properties Company Electrical connector for strain relief for an electrical cable
US20170358878A1 (en) * 2016-06-10 2017-12-14 Te Connectivity Corporation Electrical contact pad for electrically contacting a connector
US9948026B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2018-04-17 3M Innovative Properties Company Wire mount electrical connector
US20200076101A1 (en) * 2018-08-29 2020-03-05 Avx Corporation Contact carrier
US11088484B2 (en) * 2019-04-25 2021-08-10 Kitagawa Industries Co., Ltd. Contact member

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10030228C2 (de) * 2000-06-20 2002-07-11 Itt Mfg Enterprises Inc Elektrischer Steckverbinder
DE20010669U1 (de) * 2000-06-21 2001-10-31 Itt Mfg Enterprises Inc Elektrische Verbindungseinrichtung
JP5500870B2 (ja) * 2009-05-28 2014-05-21 新光電気工業株式会社 接続端子付き基板及び電子部品のソケット等
JP7450658B2 (ja) * 2022-04-08 2024-03-15 日本航空電子工業株式会社 コネクタおよびコネクタ・ケーブル

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2509701A (en) * 1948-03-12 1950-05-30 Daven Company Terminal panel
US4623207A (en) * 1984-06-26 1986-11-18 Oki Densen Kabushiki Kaisha Printed circuit board connector

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH088550Y2 (ja) * 1988-01-14 1996-03-06 アンプ インコーポレーテッド フラットケーブル用コネクタ
US5071371A (en) * 1990-03-30 1991-12-10 Molex Incorporated Electrical card edge connector assembly
JPH069152B2 (ja) * 1991-06-18 1994-02-02 モレックス インコーポレーテッド 水平基板接続用カードエッヂコネクタ及びその製法
EP0735616A3 (fr) * 1995-03-31 1997-03-19 Wieland Elektrische Industrie Connecteur électrique, notamment pour des plaquettes de circuits

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2509701A (en) * 1948-03-12 1950-05-30 Daven Company Terminal panel
US4623207A (en) * 1984-06-26 1986-11-18 Oki Densen Kabushiki Kaisha Printed circuit board connector

Cited By (30)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6287151B1 (en) * 1999-01-29 2001-09-11 Molex Incorporated Electrical connector for manipulation by a vacuum-suction nozzle
US6719594B1 (en) * 1999-03-08 2004-04-13 Tyco Electronics. Amp, K.K. Board-mounted connector
US6855013B2 (en) * 2000-05-08 2005-02-15 Tyco Electronic Logistics Ag LCD connector for printed circuit boards
US6604950B2 (en) * 2001-04-26 2003-08-12 Teledyne Technologies Incorporated Low pitch, high density connector
US6730134B2 (en) 2001-07-02 2004-05-04 Intercon Systems, Inc. Interposer assembly
US6905343B1 (en) 2001-07-02 2005-06-14 Intercon Systems, Inc. Interposer assembly
US6488513B1 (en) 2001-12-13 2002-12-03 Intercon Systems, Inc. Interposer assembly for soldered electrical connections
US20070105407A1 (en) * 2005-11-04 2007-05-10 Advanced Connectek Inc. Board to board connector
US7335068B2 (en) 2005-11-04 2008-02-26 Advanced Connectek Inc. Board to board connector
US20130109246A1 (en) * 2011-11-02 2013-05-02 Steven E. Minich Electrical connector with reduced normal force
US9022812B2 (en) * 2011-11-02 2015-05-05 Fci Americas Technology Llc Electrical connector with reduced normal force
US9455503B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2016-09-27 3M Innovative Properties Company Electrical connector contact terminal
US9876285B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2018-01-23 3M Innovative Properties Company Electrical connector contact terminal
US10290954B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2019-05-14 3M Innovative Properties Company Electrical connector contact terminal
US9509094B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2016-11-29 3M Innovative Properties Company Board mount electrical connector with latch opening on bottom wall
US9509089B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2016-11-29 3M Innovative Properties Company Electrical connector latch
US10063006B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2018-08-28 3M Innovative Properties Company Wire mount electrical connector
US9553401B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2017-01-24 3M Innovative Properties Company Electrical connector for strain relief for an electrical cable
US9728864B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2017-08-08 3M Innovative Properties Company Electrical connector contact terminal
US9948026B2 (en) 2012-02-07 2018-04-17 3M Innovative Properties Company Wire mount electrical connector
US9397427B2 (en) 2012-10-09 2016-07-19 Molex, Llc Card edge connector
CN105449422B (zh) * 2014-08-28 2019-02-22 春源科技(深圳)有限公司 多件式fpc连接器
US9531096B2 (en) * 2014-08-28 2016-12-27 Harumoto Technology (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd. Multiple-piece FPC connector
CN105449422A (zh) * 2014-08-28 2016-03-30 春源科技(深圳)有限公司 多件式fpc连接器
US20160064844A1 (en) * 2014-08-28 2016-03-03 Harumoto Technology (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd. Multiple-Piece FPC Connector
US20170358878A1 (en) * 2016-06-10 2017-12-14 Te Connectivity Corporation Electrical contact pad for electrically contacting a connector
US10263352B2 (en) * 2016-06-10 2019-04-16 Te Connectivity Corporation Electrical contact pad for electrically contacting a connector
US20200076101A1 (en) * 2018-08-29 2020-03-05 Avx Corporation Contact carrier
US10868377B2 (en) * 2018-08-29 2020-12-15 Avx Corporation Electrical spring contact with integrated extending carrier portion
US11088484B2 (en) * 2019-04-25 2021-08-10 Kitagawa Industries Co., Ltd. Contact member

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0964478A2 (fr) 1999-12-15
JP2000012135A (ja) 2000-01-14
EP0964478A3 (fr) 2000-07-12
JP3903332B2 (ja) 2007-04-11

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Owner name: MOLEX INCORPORATED, ILLINOIS

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